poppycock (English)

Where does "poppycock" come from?

The word 'poppycock' entered English from the Dutch term 'pappekak', which is a colorful, if unrefined, compound. It combines the Middle Dutch words for 'soft food' and 'dung' to literally describe nonsense as something soft and excrement-like. Over time, it evolved from this literal scatological origin into the common, lighthearted term we use today to dismiss foolish talk.

Full etymology tree

• poppycock (English), 'foolish talk; nonsense.'
  • borrowed pappekak (Middle Dutch)
    • compound pappe (Middle Dutch)
    • compound kak (Middle Dutch)

Updated June 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris